A local official in charge of handicraft affairs reported that the exports during the previous year soared to $15 million from just $7 million in the year earlier.

Nourullah Abdollahi also stated that these export figures are separate from personal shipments (suitcase trade) by passengers.

“Hand-woven carpets, pottery, block print and metal products like enamel” the handicrafts deputy chief added. “Are among the handicrafts that have many buyers in foreign countries.”

The upsurge in exports can be attributed to the high demand for Isfahan's traditional handicrafts, the official noted.

Abdollahi further outlined that the products from Isfahan, a city celebrated as the cradle of one-third of the world’s handicrafts, have found a flourishing market in countries such as Germany, the UAE, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

According to Majdodin Taj, head of Isfahan's Handicraft Union, the province is home to 100 officially recognized artisans contributing to this thriving industry.

As per records, Isfahan is responsible for safeguarding 200 of the 299 recognized handicraft categories in Iran, out of a global total of 602.

Local specialties such as enamel, block print, Qalamzani [metal engraving], inlay work, turquoise inlaying, wood carving and pottery continue to sustain and spread Isfahan's rich cultural heritage across the globe.

This robust export activity not only preserves these ancient crafts but also significantly contributes to the local economy through international trade, as claimed by provincial officials.

Isfahan is sometimes referred to as the crown jewel of Iran’s handicraft industry, where its artisans do their best to safeguard know-how passed down from generation to generation.

The city was once a crossroads of international trade and diplomacy in Iran, and now it is one of Iran’s top tourist destinations for good reasons. It has long been nicknamed as Nesf-e-Jahan, which is translated into “half the world”, meaning seeing it is relevant to see half the world.